Androgen metabolism in the male hamster--2. Aromatization of androstenedione in the hypothalamus and in the cerebral cortex; kinetic parameters and effect of exposure to different photoperiods

It has been demonstrated that exposure of the hamster to a short photoperiod (light on less than 12 h/day) induces an increased sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to the feedback effect of testosterone. It was consequently felt of interest to investigate whether the photoperiod might act by increasing the formation of estrogens in the CNS and/or in the anterior pituitary. The aromatase activity was studied utilizing a sensitive in vitro assay that measures the amount of 3H2O formed during the conversion of [1 beta-3H]androstenedione to estrone. First of all it has been investigated whether the aromatizing enzymes, previously found in the hypothalamus, were present also in the cerebral cortex and in the anterior pituitary; secondly, the kinetic parameters of the enzyme were determined; finally, the possible variation of the central aromatase activity in hamsters exposed to a long or to a short photoperiod was investigated. The results obtained indicate that both in the hypothalamus and in the cerebral cortex the aromatization of androstenedione is linear with respect to time of incubation and tissue concentration; moreover, in the two structures, the enzyme demonstrated a similar Michaelis-Menten constant (0.03 and 0.08 microM respectively). From a quantitative point of view, the hypothalamus seems to possess an aromatizing activity higher than that of the cerebral cortex. Exposure of the hamsters to a short photostimulation for 60 days resulted in a significant regression of the reproductive system (decreased testicular weight and serum LH levels) and in a decrease of the aromatase activity of the hypothalamus. There was no effect of the photoperiod on the aromatase of the cerebral cortex. Since androgens are known to stimulate the aromatase, the present data might be tentatively interpreted by suggesting that the variation in the formation of estrogens during the short photoperiod might be the consequence of the decreased serum testosterone levels typical of the hamster in the quiescent gonadal period.